An American contractor has been by Taliban militants in Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province, US media reported.
Contractor Mark R. Frerichs was kidnapped last Friday, US magazine Newsweek reported citing unidentified US officials. CNN also reported the kidnapping saying the contractor was not working for the US military at the time of the abduction.
The 57-year-old is a former US Navy diver and the managing director for International Logistical Support, a US government contractor.
According to his LinkedIn account, he has worked as a civil engineer in several conflict zones from Iraq to Sudan during the past 10 years, where he has consulted on logistical contracts for both governments and non-governmental organizations. US officials toldNewsweekFrerichs had regularly traveled to Afghanistan since 2012.
There was no immediate responsibility for the kidnapping. US officials believe the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network orchestrated the operation, according to Newsweek.
